Dawn Melanie’s BodyBlog

Why Not?  Why don’t we stick with our plan to accomplish whatever goals we may have in life?  Perhaps financial obligations are of utmost importance?  Or maybe other family matters need to be resolved immediately?  Maybe we are just weary and beat by the woes of everyday life.

Nonetheless, it seems that a means to succeed exists in every situation.  Hopefully, my story today is not unexpected.  My story today depicts how I was reminded to never say, “I could’ve, I would’ve, I should’ve but I didn’t.  Today, I DID.  I did as much as I could physically and mentally to make certain my full recovery after fall ‘06 ACL surgery.

Routines are named so for good reason.  They are just that … “routines.  Often monotonous in nature these scheduled tasks become habitual.  Although tedious as the repetition allows for little or no spontaneity, the everyday performance of such tasks often leads to goal accomplishment. 

At 5:00 am, I woke to re-start a “routine once temporarily set aside. I speak of my ritual like 5x/week gym program.  I use the word “ritual as I set out to perform a series of actions and procedures in a set, ordered, just shy of ceremonial way.  From the already prepared breakfast, needing only brief exposure to some microwave heating, to the 2 gym bags meticulously packed with at gym, ready to leave gym and post gym gear, my day began.

Training revolved around strengthening my knee for complete rehabilitation.  I rarely do much cardio exercises, but today I started and finished with cardio activities.  I began with the recumbent bicycle for 25 minutes and concluded with 20 minutes of elliptical training.  Both were at a moderate to hard intensity, although limited hard intensity.  This gave me an opportunity to exercise the supporting knee muscles for strength.  As for weight training, I did 4 sets of moderately heavy (35 lbs) dead lifts, stiff legged dead lifts:then 4 sets of hip abductor and adductor work:and 4 sets of straight leg quad extension (2.5 lbs for 25 reps), straight leg hip flexor (5lbs. for 25 reps).

The amount of weight I moved today is a far cry from my past “norm.  But, with a continued following to my “routine in a ritual-like manner, I’m sure to see increasing gains in knee strength.  In 3 months:in  6 months:in 7 months (’07 IFBB NPC North American Figure Competition) months later:I do not want to be able to say, “I Could’ve, I Would’ve, I Should’ve, but I didn’t.  Because today, I DID:and I will do again tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that:

Whether influenced by Norse mythology, urban legend, or biblical stories, western culture has perennially been fascinated with triskaidekaphobia, a phenomenon more commonly known as the “fear of 13.  Why do so many suffer from this often considered unfounded fear?  As I conclude today’s activities and reflect, I am inclined to say that the number 13 should be associated more with that of good and positive effects.  My healing surgically replaced ACL is the root of my conviction.

Today, January 19, 2007, marks 13 weeks post Reconstructive ACL surgery for me.  13 weeks of often failed attempts to discount any feelings that would reveal my endured anguish … both physically and mentally.  13 weeks embarked on a journey for which I preferred to never go.   13 weeks of being patient.

Yes, I am assuming the title “Humpty Dumpty yet again.  I’ve fallen and I WILL get up.
The fall I mention this time is a more subtle one in comparison to the one that led to my recently torn ACL.  This one was calculated.  I mathematically figured that I could wreck any semblance of a healthy meal day and still be “ok in the morning.  This warped thinking initiates the demise of healthy success.  

No, I am not indulging in the wonderful culinary delectable dishes which so many competitors are partaking.  (Chicken breast, protein powder, egg whites) But this should not give me a “free pass everyday, all day long.  I used the inclement weather as an excuse to consumewhatever was in the house.  Shopping was not a viable option with the accumulation and far from ephemeral ice on the roadways.

Well, I ate an entire bag of Oreo cookies (I don’t even like chocolate, but they were sweet and satisfied my sweet tooth).  To balance the Oreo’s with something savory, I devoured a bag of Flavor Blasted Goldfish.  Both were started and finished after I finished a half bag of Teddy Grahms this afternoon.  [Note: these were NOT individual serving bags.  These were full, multi-serving items.]

My calculations were skewed nonetheless.  Usually, I don’t let this type of erratic behavior bother me.  Today it has.  Today marks 5 consecutive days in which I did not work out.  Worse, I made no attempt.  I even failed to do my knee re-hab exercises today.  (I did do a lot of indoor walking … room to room)  Tomorrow, I will do better. Anything is better than nothing.  Rain, sleet and/or snow:I AM getting Physical tomorrow!!!

My inquiry is, "To those out there, in "Bodyspace" land, who have had a torn ACL and perhaps subsequent surgery, what has been your experiences thus far?" 

Just today, I have haphazardly come across a few members here with knee surgical tratment - past, present and, or future.   When I say, "future", I mean planned or scheduled.  By no means am I claiming to be a clairvoyant. 

Anyway, I am 3 months post Reconstructive ACL surgery and have significant hopes for competition years 2007/2008.  It has been a challenging,ongoing struggle.  However, each passing day yields healing progress.  Negative, I am not sulking or giving up on competing again.  I am just curious to hear YOUR stories. 

Cheers!

So, today is the first day of the year 2007, and we are all calculating our New Year’s resolutions, right?  Well, I’ll share mine with you all…but, please share yours too.

My 2007 New Year’s Resolution is probably not a surprise to most.  I plan to Re-Hab, Re-Hab, Re-Hab my left, 10/15/06, reconstructed ACL.  During this time (Jan. -Mar. ‘07), I’ll be methodically eating and lifting to gain 10-15 lbs., mostly lean muscle. This will be a challenge (I’m so used to these) as I have never weighed this much in my thirty-four years of life. 

Then, I will chisel and sculpt a strong, lean body with a total mass of 122-125 lbs., perhaps in time to enter the 2007 IFBB Qualifier North American Figure Competition. Nonetheless, I will not rush results of my rehabilitation efforts.  I want to perform the best as I can with the time allotted. 

And hey, no worries…I’ll be 35 years young at the end of 2007…thus qualifying me for the Master’s category in Figure competitions.   Although this was not previously anticipated, I am excited to seriously contemplate continuing my Figure career/adventure well beyond a time frame ever imagined.   I am sure to return to the stage as soon as I am phyically ready.  I’m not out yet…nor do I plan on it.   ~Dawn Melanie~ 

Today marks the 100^th day since my right ACL was completely torn. [See my Blogs entitled “Road to Recovery and “Be Neither Victim Nor Culprit]  It also marks 10 weeks post-op my reconstructive ACL surgery.  Amazingly, nearly beyond belief, I am doing well. 

My ambulatory abilities have returned to a pre-ACL surgery state.  And I cannot express how thankful I am for my continued recovery.  I am so positively psyched about my recovery, that I have commenced the planning phase for competition years 2007-2008.  Because I want to avoid any potential obstacles to my full recovery, I will act as advised by my doctor, “Take It Slowly. 

April 06, 2007 is my expected clearance date to restart weight training.  That allows me four (4) solid months to (re)build, (re)build, (re)build a competition worthy physique.  Of course, my unchanged struggle will be multiplied.  I have to work many times harder to gain acceptable muscular development and tonicity of my legs.  I intend to begin tweaking my upper body and abdominals during January through March 2007. 

Well, that’s all for now Folks. I am happily signing off.  I wish you all a €˜Happy, Safe Holiday Season!!!’

It’s not worth it.  I speak only from MY experience(s).  Regarding the said topic, I have been on both sides of the fence.  Unlike most females, I am often the aggressor.  Like most females, I am not as physically strong as the average male. 

Many of you already know that I tore my ACL in September.  But you don’t know how I tore it, right?  Although “possible, it is rare that a completely torn ACL along with meniscus, etc. occurs from a simple fall.  Until today, that has been “How I tore my ACL.  But today I reveal the truth.  Today I was reminded just how quick arguments can escalate to levels of domestic violence beyond imagination. 

Today marks 3 months since my life changing injury.  It also marks my 13^th month of marriage.  My husband watches the changes endured by his “fitness babe because of an incident of which we lost control 3 months ago.  Angry words and a series of berating verbal blows led to physical challenges. The verbal insults were not enough.  I unjustly “threw the first stone.  I threw the only stones.  But, the wrestling:the struggle to free myself from his restraints:we agree that this activity had a direct correlation to my sustained injuries. 

As I said earlier, I am an aggressor.  But I recall asking for a mutual halt of the physical confrontation:and not receiving any reprieve.  Because I was the initial aggressor, my pleas were ignored.  Because I LOOK muscular and was fighting like “a man:my husband ignored my declarations of undue discomfort.  

When I was allowed to get up from the wrestling match, I stubbornly put on my competition stilettos and verified that I could gracefully make quarter turns for presentation.  Painfully I turned and smiled. The €˜big dance’ was in 2 days.  After taking a shower to ease the pain in my knee, I laid down for a nap. I shortly detected a horrible pain existing in my left knee.

After icing the affected knee and resting, I attempted to go to the bathroom.  Wrong.  I fell down:a degree of pain never experienced prior. What the &*^#$)???!!!!  Through the night and early morning I was able to get to the restroom only with my husband’s ability and willingness to carry me. He told me then that my competition in the upcoming, much anticipated show looked doubtful.  He was correct.  I was in denial that this was happening.  Even after my doctor’s initial prognosis, I wondered would crutches be allowed:or would the officials declare that a prop:(hmmmmmmm.)

Well, I was having my knee MRI whilst the competitors were on stage for pre-judging.  [the angst] It confirmed that my ACL was history. The damage report was surreal.  My worst fear had materialized.  I needed to undergo surgery … invasive surgery.  I had reconstructive ACL surgery 5 weeks later.  Today, 17 weeks later since occurrence, I manage my grief to by best ability.  My goal goes beyond simply attaining the physical conditioning that I possessed prior to the incident.  I desire a personal state of equanimity.  I need not allow anything or anyone take me out of my zone … whatsoever it may be.  I could have walked away:I needed not to strike In anger.

Just as I maintain self-control in contest preparation, I strive to have such poise in my personal relationship.  A strong mutual love is shared by my husband and me.  If we could, we would turn back the clock.  Since we can’t, we live with the repercussions and optimistically act for our futures.

Ok, I checked out the cost of my new ACL…I had reconstructive surgery 18 days ago.  Wow!  All I’ll say is some alternative of funds use include: a year at an ivy league university, a sports car (albeit American-lol), and a nice down payment on a home.  Thank God for the insurance coverage.  The actual financial hit, incurred by me, was a blessing.

Well, back to my at-home re-hab exercises.  I was just taking a mid-point break to elevate my knee to minimize swelling.

By the way, I hit the gym yesterday (first time in 18 days).  I did back, triceps and abs.

Cheers!

Well, the "damage" has been done, yet I have yet to "see" what the "damage" looks like.  My ACL reconstructive surgery was performed Friday, October 20, 2006.  Today, Monday, October 23, 2006, my bandages are changed.  So, for the first time, I will see the incision holes, etc.  My pain pump is also removed.  I am anxious to see the product.  But, in the meantime, I will simply take all the physical challenge I can stand - going to the bathroom.  Besides the excrutiating pain when pressure is exerted on my left leg, performing the act is quite difficult and circus-like.  Anyways, I’ll keep you all posted.